Method of making half-binding hard covers for books and a machine for the implementation thereof

Abstract

In order to form a hard book binding having a middle covering and two side coverings, a unitary covering is first formed by securing the side coverings onto the middle covering; thereafter, a spine member and two coverboard members are attached, in mutually spaced apart relationship, to said unitary covering at the middle covering and the side coverings, respectively.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of making hard cover of the half-binding type comprising two cover board members and a spine member held together by a middle covering, and two more coverings covering said cover board members characterized in that it comprises the steps of forming a unitary covering by superimposing two side coverings in overlapping relation to respective lateral edges of a middle covering, and then securing to said unitary covering, in mutually spaced apart relationship, a spine member and two cover board members respectively at said middle covering and said side coverings. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said middle covering and said side coverings are each coated with glue on one face thereof, side portions of the glue-coated faces of said side coverings are attached to respective side portions of the glue-less face of said middle covering to form said unitary covering, the latter unitary covering having a glue-coated face whereto there are pasted, in mutually spaced apart relationship, said spine member and said two cover board members. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the side coverings and middle covering are coated with glue by a single operation. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the side coverings are attached to said middle covering by a single operation. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that said spine member and said cover board members are attached to said unitary covering by a single operation. 
     
     
       6. A machine for making half-binding type hard covers, characterized in that it comprises a first set of loading magazines to respectively accommodate stacks of side and middle coverings, a second set of loading magazines to respectively accommodate stacks of cover board members and spine members, a work deck carried between said first and second sets of loading magazines, a transfer applicator device for picking up and transferring said cover board and spine members from respective ones of said loading magazines onto said work deck, a glue application station in the proximity of said first set of loading magazines, a table carried between said work deck and said glue application station, a raised flat portion formed in the middle region of said table to support a middle covering, said middle portion having a section which extends shelf-like toward said glue application station, with opposedly located edges, recessed seats formed in said table on either side of said raised portion to support respective ones of said side coverings, at least two blower nozzles aimed vertically to act on either side of said shelf-like section, a carriage guided for movement between said first and second sets of loading magazines at a position overlying said work deck and said table, a body attached centrally to said carriage and provided with respective picker means operative to pick up a middle covering, two slides guided for movement on said carriage along a perpendicular direction to the carriage direction of movement and provided with respective pluralities of picker means operative to pick up corresponding ones of said side coverings, and means for shifting said slides away from and toward said centrally located body. 
     
     
       7. A machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said first set of loading magazines for the respective stacks of side and middle coverings includes two guide walls of small thickness extending respectively between said stacks of side coverings and stack of middle coverings. 
     
     
       8. A machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the opposed edges of the shelf-like section of the flat raised portion are comprised of respective strips supported on respective small blocks mounted in an adjustable sliding manner along a beam lying in a perpendicular direction to the direction of movement of the carriage. 
     
     
       9. A machine according to claim 8, characterized in that the strips are supported on the blocks in an adjustable sliding manner along a direction parallel to the carriage direction of movement.